Clarkson has a new Supervisor, Ursula Liotta, and a new town Councilperson, Sharon Mattison. This change of government representation did not occur because the citizens elected new leaders. There was no campaign, no issues discussed or debated. The Town Board just appointed their friends. For the second time in ten years, the Town Board has chosen town leaders. Clarkson is not governed by the consent of the governed but rather by the consent of party leaders. I know the jobs of Supervisor and Councilperson are demanding and, at times, thankless. I don’t know why Christa Filipowicz retired and Leslie Zink resigned; I wish only the best for them. I also want Ursula Liotta and Sharon Mattison to be successful in their new positions.
However, this sudden change in government is very suspicious. At the August 8 Town Board meeting, there was a motion for a moratorium for six months on land development so that a new updated zoning code and map could be worked out. In 2015, the Town Board approved a project to bring 1,000 people to the area of Sweden-Walker Road and Route 104. (That is not a misprint: 1,000 people; notice the Walk/Don’t Walk signs). Although that project has stalled, it is still on the books. Updating the zoning codes was in line with keeping Clarkson a family-oriented, friendly community. The town was preparing for sidewalks, shopping areas, housing, parking areas, restaurants, etc., for 1,000 people. The entire character of that corner and perhaps the town of Clarkson would be different. Sharon Mattison objected to the moratorium at the August 8 meeting because she owns land near that corner that would be under the six-month moratorium. After she was sworn in as Councilperson, the next order of business was to cancel the public hearing on the moratorium, presumedly so that she and Supervisor Liotta could become familiar with the legislation. This is all legal, I am sure, but it is not proper and has the appearance of underhanded dealing.
While I hope for the best and a successful administration for Ursula Liotta and the entire Clarkson Town Board, including Sharon Mattison, this is not an auspicious start.
William Fine
Clarkson
Note: Westside News reached out to the Town of Clarkson for a response. A letter from Town Board Member Nick D’Amuro follows.
In response to the letter of Mr. Fine
Mr. Fine is a man who has served his country, is extremely intelligent, and someone I have a great amount of respect for. However, his letter saddens me.
He accuses the Town Board of choosing our “friends” and appointing them to the Board without a campaign, exchange of ideas etc.
When individuals resign, or retire, it is the job of a local legislative body to appoint replacement members to serve in the open positions until the term is up. This allows the municipality to function at a proper level of efficiency. There was much discussion on who to appoint, and both Ursula Liotta and Sharon Mattison are on your ballot in Clarkson for these respective positions this fall.
There are no opposition candidates running in Clarkson. Both Sharon and Ursula are running unopposed, and both have significant amounts of experience in our town and local government. Sharon served as Town Clerk for years previously until 2020, and Ursula has been involved in every office of town government. Both were excellent choices based on qualifications and showed the gumption to run for office as well. No one knows what the election this fall holds, but Sharon and Ursula are quite likely to receive the will of the people.
Mr. Fine also accuses that there is a lack of the consent of the governed. I would suggest that he is using the term in the wrong light. We as citizens of this nation enter into a social contract with our government forsaking a certain level of life, liberty, and property and in return we receive protection of our rights and a certain amount of security. When someone is in power following an election or even an appointment, the consent of the governed still exists even if we disagree with those in charge. When a special election is not required by law, and there is no precedent to do so, elected legislatures in a Democratic Republic act as the will of the people. This is not a perfect system to some, but to others it works efficiently to achieve legislative goals and community stability. Furthermore, it is extremely unwise to operate a municipal board with only three members. If just one member were to be out due to illness or a variety of factors the town would be unable to pay bills or vote on legislation.
Was the town board to create a special election out of thin air? This would be an unwise use of taxpayer funds with the election just a few weeks away, and as stated there is no requirement or even suggestion in town law to do so. Finally, there was a potential for a campaign this fall to have that exchange of ideas and for the people to choose, but no one has stepped forward to run against the candidates that Mr. Fine has designated as “friends.”
As for the moratorium, we explained this in more depth at our meeting on September 26 and in previous meetings. The goal of the moratorium was to ensure that our hamlet areas could correspond with the goals laid out in our comprehensive plan. Sharon Mattison as a private citizen appealed to the board that her property should not be included for a variety of valid reasons. Once letters were sent out to others notifying them of their inclusion, a large number of citizens attended our most recent meeting on September 26 with some of the same concerns as Sharon. The Board felt that we needed to have better communication and transparency before considering any moratorium. We felt that had not happened and therefore postponed the discussion until everyone could be brought up to speed, along with the residents. Hence the notifying letters sent to those in the area.
I still hold Mr. Fine in the same high regard despite his letter. Since my election in 2021, I along with the other board members worked tirelessly to represent the town well and to be transparent. It is unfounded accusations like this one that disappoint me, and one of the reasons I believe few run for local office.
Nick D’Amuro
Clarkson Town Board Member
